Content
| Year 7 | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Design and Script. Students will begin to learn script conventions and be able to understand how design plays a large part in the creation of theatre, as we explore set and costume. Get your wands at the ready! Silent Film: Theatre History and stage craft. Exploring the key elements of mime and comedy; students are also introduced to how film began. Studying the greats of silent film, planning their own storylines and using the green screen to record their own silent films; this scheme enables students to become, playwright, director, producer and performer. Introduction to Shakespeare: Script and Theatre History. Think you know the works of Shakespeare? Think again, this scheme introduces A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet, some of his most famous plays, focusing on dark characters, comic scenes and magical kingdoms. Shakespeare’s work was made to be performed so be prepared to get on your feet and emerge yourself in themes that are still relevant for a modern audience |
| Year 8 | Hood: Script and Theatre of the Oppressed. Tackling modern day poverty, relationships and family breakdown, this script asks questions about ‘what is right?’. The students will use a combination of script and forum theatre to challenge and question how society treat its vulnerable. Macbeth: Design and Theatre History. Students are able to delve deeper into this fascinating story by manipulating light, set and costume. This scheme focuses on submerging an audience into a truly memorable experience learning how to use special effects to enhance meaning in a scene. This work supports the learning of Macbeth in GCSE English. Noughts and Crosses: Script and Stage craft. A bittersweet love story set in a society divided by racial bigotry and a world rocked by terrorism. The students will explore the challenges of bringing a well loved novel to the stage, exploring character, audience perception and playwrights intentions. |
| Year 9 | Girls Like That: Script writing. Scarlet has had a private photo sent around her school. Her so called ‘friends’ are making the situation worse. This play by Evan Placey challenges students to develop accurate characterisation and reflect on a topic that dominates the headlines and social media. The Woman in Black: Design and Directing. This gothic horror playtext, set in the Edwardian Era, follows Jennet Humphries’ revenge. Based upon Susan Hill’s novel, it is the second longest running play in London’s West End. Students explore and evaluate how the design elements and direction of the two actors (who multirole all the characters) have made The Woman in Black ‘The most terrifying live theatre experience’. Hope you’re not afraid of the dark… The Beauty Manifesto: Devising. Set in a dystopian world where plastic surgery is a mandatory. What value do we place on beauty and being an individual? Students will create original pieces based upon the darker side of the beauty industry and pose the question: Is beauty only skin deep? |
Assessment (including homework)
| All years | Assessment is continuous and will include formative and summative elements in order to promote independent learning. The baseline assessment in Year 7 will highlight any high potential students and they will be monitored throughout the year. Students who wish to improve their skills or confidence may be invited to lunchtime clubs in order to support their further development. Students will be given support with homework tasks, suitable roles in performance and team work, and also extra guidance where necessary. Students receive homework tasks when appropriate, which may involve learning lines and key vocabulary, rehearsal, self-reflection, research, extended writing and theory exam questions. Students will also complete one homework project a year. |
How to support your daughter
Ensure completion of homework. This may include offering access to the internet or trips to the library where possible. Remember students can use the school library and computers at lunchtime.
Encourage your daughter to participate in extracurricular activities including theatre visits where possible. Attend performances where possible to broaden students understanding of the performing arts.